High (The Cure song)

{{Infobox song

| name = High

| cover = High_s.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = the Cure

| album = Wish

| B-side =

"This Twilight Garden"
"Play"

| released = {{start date|1992|3|16|df=y}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Alternative pop{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-03-14.pdf|title=New Releases – Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=9|issue=11|page=10|date=14 March 1992|access-date=25 July 2020}}

| length = 3:34

| label = Fiction

| writer =

| producer =

Robert Smith
David Allen

| prev_title = Close to Me

| prev_version = remix

| prev_year = 1990

| next_title = Friday I'm in Love

| next_year = 1992

}}

"High" is a song by English rock band the Cure, released as the lead single from their ninth album, Wish (1992), on 16 March 1992. The track received mostly positive reviews and was commercially successful, reaching number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, number six on the Irish Singles Chart, and number eight on the UK Singles Chart. It charted within the top five in Australia, Italy, New Zealand and Portugal.

Critical reception

An article published by Evening Standard ranked "High" as the 11th-best Cure song, calling its lyrics "dexterous and playful" and describing the song in its entirety as a "lovable thing".{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/music/the-cures-15-greatest-ever-songs-a3880766.html|title=The Cure's 15 greatest ever songs, from Boys Don't Cry to Lullaby|last1=Ellis|first1=David|last2=Embley|first2=Jochan|last3=Fletcher|first3=Harry|website=Evening Standard|date=18 April 2019|access-date=25 July 2020}} Larry Flick of Billboard also gave the song a positive review, calling it "subtle but infectious".{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1992-04-04.pdf|title=Single Reviews|last=Flick|first=Larry|author-link=Larry Flick|magazine=Billboard|volume=104|issue=14|page=67|date=4 April 1992|access-date=25 July 2020}} Conversely, Michael Gallucci of Diffuser described the song as "kinda blah".{{cite web|url=https://diffuser.fm/best-cure-songs/|title=Top 10 Cure Songs|last=Gallucci|first=Michael|website=Diffuser|date=26 October 2012|access-date=25 July 2020}}

Track listings

7-inch single

:A. "High" – 3:34

:B. "This Twilight Garden" – 4:43

12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=High|others=The Cure|year=1992|type=European 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Fiction Records|id=865 565-1, ficsx 39}}

:A1. "High" (Higher mix)

:B1. "This Twilight Garden"

:B2. "Play"

Maxi-CD single

"High" (single mix)
"This Twilight Garden"
"Play"
"High" (Higher mix)

US CD single{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/high-mw0000944801|title=The Cure – High Overview|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=25 July 2020}}

"High" (single mix) – 3:34
"Open" – 6:51

Personnel

Robert Smith – vocals, 6-string bass, keyboards
Simon Gallup – bass
Porl Thompson – guitar
Boris Williams – drums
Perry Bamonte – 6-string bass, keyboard
Mark Saunders – remixing

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="row"\|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-05-02.pdf\|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles\|magazine=Music & Media\|volume=9\|issue=18\|page=37\|date=2 May 1992\|access-date=21 November 2019}} \|align="center"\|13
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" \|+Weekly chart performance for "High" !Chart (1992) !Peak position
{{single chart\|Australia\|5\|artist=The Cure\|song=High\|rowheader=true\|refname="aus"}}
{{single chart\|Austria\|27\|artist=The Cure\|song=High\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Flanders\|21\|artist=The Cure\|song=High\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Canadatopsingles\|41\|chartid=2158\|rowheader=true\|access-date=24 September 2018}}
{{single chart\|France\|11\|artist=The Cure\|song=High\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Germany\|14\|artist=The Cure\|song=High\|songid=2426\|rowheader=true\|access-date=28 February 2019}}
{{single chart\|Ireland2\|6\|artist=The Cure\|rowheader=true\|access-date=27 October 2019}}
scope="row"\|Italy (Musica e dischi){{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-05-02.pdf\|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe\|magazine=Music & Media\|volume=9\|issue=18\|page=34\|date=2 May 1992\|access-date=21 November 2019}} \|align="center"\|4
{{single chart\|Dutch40\|35\|year=1992\|week=19\|rowheader=true\|access-date=24 September 2018}}
{{single chart\|Dutch100\|37\|artist=The Cure\|song=High\|rowheader=true\|access-date=24 September 2018}}
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|4\|artist=The Cure\|song=High\|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"\|Portugal (AFP){{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-06-06.pdf\|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe\|magazine=Music & Media\|volume=9\|issue=23\|page=21\|date=6 June 1992\|access-date=23 November 2019}} \|align="center"\|2
scope="row"\|Spain (AFYVE){{cite book\|last=Salaverri\|first=Fernando\|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002\|edition=1st\|date=September 2005\|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE\|location=Spain\|isbn=84-8048-639-2}} \|align="center"\|19
{{single chart\|Sweden\|18\|artist=The Cure\|song=High\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Switzerland\|14\|artist=The Cure\|song=High\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|UK\|8\|date=19920328\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|UKsinglesbyname\|44\|artist=The Cure\|song=High (Remix)\|artistid=20492\|rowheader=true\|note="High" (remix)}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|42\|artist=The Cure\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Billboardalternativesongs\|1\|artist=The Cure\|rowheader=true\|access-date=27 October 2019}}
{{single chart\|Billboarddanceclubplay\|22\|artist=The Cure\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Billboarddancesales\|27\|artist=The Cure\|rowheader=true\|access-date=5 April 2022}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \|+Year-end chart performance for "High" !Chart (1992) !Position
scope="row"\|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-12-19.pdf\|title=1992 Year-End Sales Charts\|magazine=Music & Media\|volume=9\|issue=51/52\|page=17\|date=19 December 1992\|access-date=30 January 2020}} \|align="center"\|75
scope="row"\|US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine\|title=The Year in Music: Top Modern Rock Tracks\|magazine=Billboard\|volume=104\|issue=52\|page=YE-42\|date=26 December 1992}} \|align="center"\|24

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+Year-end chart performance for "High"

!Chart (1992)

!Position

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-12-19.pdf|title=1992 Year-End Sales Charts|magazine=Music & Media|volume=9|issue=51/52|page=17|date=19 December 1992|access-date=30 January 2020}}

|align="center"|75

scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music: Top Modern Rock Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=104|issue=52|page=YE-42|date=26 December 1992}}

|align="center"|24

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !scope="col"\|Region !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Format(s) !scope="col"\|Label(s) !scope="col"\|{{abbr\|Ref(s).\|Reference(s)}}
scope="row"\|United Kingdom \|rowspan="2"\|16 March 1992 \|{{hlist\|7-inch vinyl\|12-inch vinyl\|CD\|cassette}} \|Fiction \|align="center"\|{{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-03-14.pdf\|title=New Releases: Singles\|magazine=Music Week\|page=21\|date=14 March 1992\|access-date=20 June 2021}}
scope="row"\|United States \|{{hlist\|Modern rock radio\|CD}} \|{{hlist\|Fiction\|Elektra}} \|align="center"\|{{cite magazine\|title=April's Alternatives: More Cure, Boxed Lou\|last=Russell\|first=Deborah\|magazine=Billboard\|volume=104\|issue=4\|page=9\|date=4 April 1992\|quote=The single 'High' has been heating up modern rock airwaves since March 16.}}{{cite magazine\|title=Several Labels Test 2-Track CD Singles Priced at $4.98\|last=Rosen\|first=Craig\|magazine=Billboard\|volume=104\|issue=16\|page=5\|date=18 April 1992\|quote=...with a Cure single released March 16. The CD single, packaged in a cardboard 'baby jacket,' featured 'High' / 'Open,'...}}
scope="row"\|Japan \|25 April 1992 \|CD \|Fiction \|align="center"\|{{cite web\|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/4567/products/201736/1/\|title=ハイ {{!}} Cure\|trans-title=High {{!}} Cure\|publisher=Oricon\|language=ja\|access-date=6 February 2024}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref(s).|Reference(s)}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|rowspan="2"|16 March 1992

|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}

|Fiction

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-03-14.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=21|date=14 March 1992|access-date=20 June 2021}}

scope="row"|United States

|{{hlist|Modern rock radio|CD}}

|{{hlist|Fiction|Elektra}}

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|title=April's Alternatives: More Cure, Boxed Lou|last=Russell|first=Deborah|magazine=Billboard|volume=104|issue=4|page=9|date=4 April 1992|quote=The single 'High' has been heating up modern rock airwaves since March 16.}}{{cite magazine|title=Several Labels Test 2-Track CD Singles Priced at $4.98|last=Rosen|first=Craig|magazine=Billboard|volume=104|issue=16|page=5|date=18 April 1992|quote=...with a Cure single released March 16. The CD single, packaged in a cardboard 'baby jacket,' featured 'High' / 'Open,'...}}

scope="row"|Japan

|25 April 1992

|CD

|Fiction

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/4567/products/201736/1/|title=ハイ {{!}} Cure|trans-title=High {{!}} Cure|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=6 February 2024}}